Chicago Food Halls: What Is Open and How They Work

Chicago food halls had a boom, a shakeout and a quieter second act. New halls opened in the Loop and the West Loop in quick succession, then offices emptied, costs rose and several closed. This guide covers which halls have closed, which are still going, how a food hall works for a group and how to choose a counter without wasting a lunch.

What is happening with Chicago food halls?

A recent piece from WBEZ and the Sun-Times asked whether the food hall era is over, after the abrupt closure of a high profile hall, and it noted that some halls are still thriving despite hybrid work. The article lists marketplaces such as Revival, Aster Hall, Block 37, Wells Street Market, Fulton Galley and Politan Row among those that sprang up in the boom and then faced a hard few years.

For a visitor, the lesson is simple. Check that a hall is open before you plan a meal around it, because the map has changed. A listing from last year may describe a space that is now something else.

There is a bright side. The halls that survive tend to be the ones with strong vendors, a steady lunch crowd and an operator who knows the neighborhood. A smaller map means a more reliable one, and a visitor who picks a surviving hall is more likely to find a good counter than one who wanders into a half empty room.

Did Time Out Market Chicago close?

Yes. Time Out Market closed its Fulton Market hall in the West Loop, and the company pointed to pandemic era shifts in office use and rising costs. News outlets reported the closure about a week before it happened.

If a guide you are reading still lists the hall, it is out of date. The same is true for several smaller halls that appear on older roundups. Treat the Time Out Market Chicago closed headline as a prompt to confirm every hall on a list.

Is Sterling Food Hall the old Revival?

Sources say yes. Revival Food Hall in the Loop announced that it would close, and a CoStar report says the space switched from its longtime local operator to an Atlanta-based group that rebranded it. A Cozymeal guide says the hall is formerly known as Revival, and Sterling Food Hall was photographed in operation in the Loop.

The Loop is a weekday lunch district, and the hall is built for that crowd, with counters that serve quickly. Check the days it is open before you plan a weekend visit.

The change of name is a reminder that a food hall is a business model, not a fixed address. Operators change, stalls turn over and the menu you read about last year may not be the one on offer. Read a recent review, and check the hall's own page for the current vendor list.

What about the Chicago French Market?

The Chicago French Market, in the West Loop beside the Ogilvie Transportation Center, is listed in a Cozymeal guide as home to many vendors serving international fare. A guide's list of stalls may not match today's, so confirm before you go.

Visit with an open mind about which stalls are there. A market with so many vendors changes often.

Its location beside a commuter hub makes it a natural stop for a quick lunch or a snack before a train. If you are traveling with luggage, look for a stall that offers a grab and go option, and leave extra time for the walk through the station.

How do food halls work?

Understanding how food halls work saves time. You enter a large room with several counters, each run by a different restaurant. You order and pay at the counter you choose, take a number or wait for your name, and carry the food to shared tables. Drinks often come from a central bar.

The advantage is choice. A group of four can eat four kinds of food at one table. The disadvantages are noise, crowded tables at peak times and the fact that quality varies from stall to stall.

How do you choose a stall?

Walk the whole hall first. Look at the lines, because a short line at lunchtime can mean fast service or weak interest, and a long line is usually worth the wait if it moves. Look at what people carry away, and ask the person at the counter what is best.

Choose a stall that cooks to order. Fresh pasta, a hot sandwich or a plate of tacos will taste better than a dish that has sat in a tray. If you are with a group, split up, order and meet at a table.

One more habit helps. Pick one anchor dish that you know you will like, and add one that you are curious about. If the curiosity pick is a miss, the anchor saves the meal, and if it is a hit, you have a new favorite to remember.

What else should you eat around Chicago?

For another way to eat under one roof, try a slice from a window in the best pizza by the slice in Chicago guide. The Chicago Chinatown restaurants guide covers a neighborhood of dim sum rooms, and food worth a drive in Illinois goes beyond the city. The US guides page lists more.

How can Mosey help with Chicago food halls?

If a group is deciding which hall to try, each person can add a counter to a shared Mosey list and the group can compare ratings by the dish before anyone leaves the house.

A food hall lunch is a quick comparison test. Get the Mosey app, rate each counter you try by its dish, its speed and its value, and build a Chicago list that tells a colleague where to eat on the next busy Tuesday.